Recovering from car accidents is a physically, financially and emotionally challenging process. If you or someone you love was injured in a car crash near Cleveland, OH you may deserve legal compensation for your pain and suffering. The car accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm Cleveland can help you recover after a devastating auto accident.
If you’ve been in a recent car accident, you should begin working with an experienced car accident lawyer to file a car accident case. The personal injury lawyers at The Cochran Firm Cleveland office are here to help you get the compensation you need. Our attorneys are also committed to providing aggressive representation if your case goes to court. Keep reading to learn more about how to respond after a car accident and how one of our Cleveland car accident attorneys can support your case.
You may wonder, do I need an attorney for an auto accident?
While your insurance provider should assign an attorney to defend you, they may not be working to get you full compensation. Some law firms operate on quantity over quality. Meaning, their goal is to get as many settlements through as quickly as possible and take the easy payouts. They may very well be leaving cash on the table that would benefit their client. This is why it is important to hire your own legal team, like The Cochran Firm Cleveland, to represent and fight for you after an auto accident.
Car Accident Claims and Lawsuits
Car accidents are fairly complicated personal injury cases, largely because negligence by multiple parties often contributes to a horrific crash. And not only can there be several people involved, but different insurance companies may also be involved. As a result, the more parties involved, the more complicated the case.
Determining and proving liability is the main challenge of pursuing a car accident claim. Obviously, reckless driving, driving under the influence, or otherwise distracted driving are liabilities for the defendant. If you have sufficient evidence that the other driver caused the accident due to one of these reasons, your case has a strong chance of success.
But other factors can also cause auto accidents. For example:
- Poorly maintained roads
- Inadequate signage
- Defective parts
If one of these additional factors contributed to an auto accident, the manufacturers or responsible agencies may be held liable.
As you can see, sorting out evidence, fault, insurance policies, and insurance coverage requires time, energy, and professional understanding.
When it comes to settling a car accident claim, determining fault is usually the first step. Once the at-fault party is determined, either that party or their insurance will offer payment for damages. However, insurance adjusters will work to reduce the amount of damages paid to you.
If a sufficient settlement is not reached outside of court, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit. In either case, a personal injury lawyer will help you navigate the ins-and-outs of your case.
What to do After a Cleveland Auto Accident
After a car accident, it’s important to call for help. First, call the police. Then, you should exchange information with the other person or persons involved in the accident. Be sure to write down their name, address, phone number, and insurance information.
Next, if you are able to, begin gathering evidence. Take pictures and make sure to file a report with your police officer. It is vital to make sure your side of the story is reported to and recorded by the police in an official report. Be sure to obtain a copy of the official police report, as any documented evidence will support your case.
If you are hurt while in an automobile accident, don’t move and call 911 for help if possible. If you have any injuries it’s important to see a medical professional immediately as this will be used to build your case.
Even if you don’t have any serious injuries, you should visit a doctor as soon as possible in order to show you were hurt in an auto accident. Additionally, when you visit a doctor they will create medical records that can be used for evidence to strengthen your claim.
Lastly, after the automotive accident, you should meet with a personal injury attorney near you for a case evaluation. They can help you decide whether to settle outside of court or if you should pursue further action. Learn more about what to do after a car accident.
Types of Auto Accidents
Car and Auto Accidents
Car accidents are a common occurrence. Every day there are thousands of car accidents all over the country. 20 to 50 million people are injured and around one million people lose their lives due to car accidents.
As we mentioned earlier, distracted driving, driving under the influence, and reckless driving are major causes of car wrecks. Other risk factors include speeding and inclement weather. Which is something we see more than enough of, here in Cleveland, thanks to Lake Erie.
One of the best ways to avoid a car accident is to stop texting and driving. And if you’re enjoying some of Cleveland’s nightlife, make sure you have a designated driver or take a Lyft or an Uber.
Also, don’t speed. It can be tempting, but speeding is the second most common cause of accidents.
Reckless driving looks like speeding and aggressively changing lanes. Combine those with road rage, and your chances for an accident go up significantly. Our advice, stay calm while driving. Rain, snow, and sleet increase your chances of a car accident.
Make sure you can see the road and slow down when driving in messy weather conditions.
Hit-and-Run Accidents
Hit and run accidents occur on average 682,000 each year since 2006. If you experience a hit and run you should report it to the police within 24 hours of the accident. You should call the police as soon as the accident happens.
Write down all of the details that you can remember, the color of the car, make and model, and license plate number if you see any parts of it. This way the police can try and locate the car that hit you. Find out if there are any witnesses that saw the accident. Be sure to get their contact information if so.
You should also take pictures of your car. After you report it to the police, you may then be advised to go to a collision reporting center if you have one close to you. Call your insurance company as soon as possible.
Truck Accidents
500,000 Trucking accidents happen in the US each year with around 5,000 per year resulting in death. Their large size and blind spots are a huge danger to passenger vehicles. Trucking accident insurance and personal injury claims also have their own unique challenges for victims. In fact, trucking companies have different requirements for accident claims, which makes matters more complicated. If you’ve been hurt in a collision with a large truck, you should contact our Cleveland trucking accident attorneys.
Truck accident insurance claims can offer high payouts, for damages because accidents involving tractor trailers are more severe than regular auto accidents. As a result, the truck driver’s insurance company will do everything they can to reduce the maximum damage payout amounts. But, you deserve fair and just compensation. Call our attorneys now for a FREE consultation.
Drunk Driving Accidents
Every year roughly 28 people die per day in motor vehicle accidents that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. In fact, in 2014 nearly 10,000 Americans lost their lives due to alcohol-impaired driving crashes.
How a Car Accident Attorney Can Help You
What is an accident lawyer?
An accident lawyer provides legal services to those who have experienced a personal injury. This injury is a result of negligence on the part of another person, a company, or any entity. Accident lawyers help build your case and provide legal representation in a court of law.
Car accident claims require an extensive investigation to determine liability. At The Cochran Firm Cleveland, our car accident lawyers know how to build an effective case that will maximize your recovery. Damage awards for Ohio car accidents include money that you can use to pay for medical care or make up for lost wages due to your injury.
Be aware that the responsible parties’ insurance has already launched their own investigation. And right now, they’re collecting evidence they’ll try to use against you to avoid giving you fair compensation.
The Cochran Firm has never been afraid to take on even the largest corporations or insurance companies. Our personal injury lawyers will aggressively pursue your claim to ensure your successful journey to justice.
Ohio Car Accident Lawyers at The Cochran Firm Cleveland
At The Cochran Firm, our attorneys deal with many segments of personal injury law every day. If you’ve been hurt in a car accident and need help, give us a call. Our experienced Cleveland auto accident attorneys are committed to providing you with personal and qualified legal representation.
Our law firm was founded by Johnnie L Cochran Jr over 40 years ago. His dedication to defending and helping individuals and families is our legacy. So, if you’ve been hurt in any type of accident, you can contact our experienced Ohio personal injury lawyers. They’ve dealt with many types of cases including, medical malpractice, premises liability, and wrongful death.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, reach out to us today. We offer FREE consultations and case evaluations to help you prepare your case. Book an appointment here on our website or give our auto accident attorneys in Cleveland, Ohio a call.